Network

US lawmakers want a ban ZTE and Huawei smartphones and routers

it seems that ZTE and Huawei may have backdoors, enabling China to spy on US communications. The U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee calls for a ban on smartphones and routers from Chinese OEMs, enabling China to spy on US communications.

Intel Launches Atom Processors for NAS Devices

By itself not really new news, but Recognizing the ongoing, real-time growth of storage demands, this solution, powered by the Intel Atom processor D2550 or the Intel Atom processor D2500 are now powering NAS servers from Asustor, QNAP, and Thecus.

TP-LINK N600 Wireless Dual Band Router

The N600 Wireless Dual Band Router provides simultaneous stream on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, great for bandwidth intensive applications like HD video streaming and online gaming. As of 9/26/2012 on Newegg.com, the NETGEAR N600 WNDR3400 retails for $79.00 while the comparable TP-LINK N600 TL-WDR3500 retails for only $47.00, a 40% savings in price.

Shuttle OMNINAS KD20 Energy Efficient NAS Server

The Shuttle OMNINAS KD20 is the company’s first NAS server. It features a pair of hot-swappable drive bays that can hold 3.5-inch HDDs (hard disk drives) with capacities of up to 4 TB each. The Shuttle OMNINAS KD20 supports RAID-1 mode (mirroring, for high data security), RAID-0 (striping and JBOD modes. The OMNINAS KD20 NAS server also features an 80mm fan for cooling, an I/O panel with one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, an SD card reader and Gigabit Ethernet.

TP-LINK pocket-sized 150Mbps Wireless Nano Router

TP-LINK introduces the TL-WR702N, a pocket-sized 150Mbps Wireless Nano Pocket Router. TP-LINK, a global provider of networking products, thinks getting high-speed Internet access on the go should not be a hassle. With the new pocket-sized 150Mbps Wireless Nano Pocket Router (TL-WR702N) anyone can have fast Internet access anywhere.

Smaller than a credit card, the 150Mbps Wireless N Nano Router provides portability and convenience with its size and flexible power supply. With a MSRP of $39.99 the TP-LINK Nano can fit the budget of any traveler or student. It's ideal for connecting tablet computers, smart phones, portable gaming consoles, and other mobile electronic devices while on-the-go.

At 2.5

Netgear ships new WiFi Booster

Netgear presents the WN1000RP WiFi Booster, this device will ship for $39.99. NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced the WiFi Booster for Mobile (WN1000RP). The compact, WiFi Booster for Mobile amplifies WiFi coverage for mobile devices in the home by extending and strengthening an existing WiFi signal, giving consumers the ability to enjoy an improved wireless experience on tablets, smartphones and e-readers.

Consumers are leveraging WiFi connectivity at home more than ever before to browse the web, stream movies and play online games on their devices. The NETGEAR WiFi Booster for Mobile improves an existing WiFi signal throughout the home and even outside on the deck or patio, enabling users to move freely around the house while streaming content on everything from tablets and e-readers to smartphones.

In addition, the NETGEAR WiFi Booster for Mobile helps consumers reduce the risk of unforeseen mobile data plan charges by easily accessing their home WiFi networks instead of the carrier's mobile networks. In a March 2012 report by Chetan Sharma, researchers found that 90% of tablet owners prefer to use WiFi, not mobile data plans, to get online at home. The NETGEAR WiFi Booster for Mobile enables users to surf the Internet and stream content using WiFi, unconstrained by mobile data plan usage limits.

NETGEAR's WiFi Booster for Mobile repeats a 2.4 GHz WiFi signal from existing routers and gateways to boost range and WiFi performance. It has a small form factor and is simple to install with a mobile-friendly browser-based setup and real-time LED indicators helping to determine optimal placement to ensure the best WiFi coverage. With the small wall-plug design and NETGEAR's Push 'n' Connect (WPS) feature, the WiFi Booster for Mobile connects quickly and easily once plugged into a power outlet and provides an instant and secure connection to any existing WiFi network.

"Consumers today want the best connected experience, complete with the ability to enjoy online entertainment on their WiFi connected mobile devices throughout the home," said Damir Skripic, product line manager for connected entertainment at NETGEAR. "The NETGEAR WiFi Booster for Mobile enables this experience by significantly increasing WiFi coverage in the home, which is ideal for roaming iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, Kindle e-readers, smartphones or any other mobile WiFi devices."

Logitec LAN-W300NDTV Wi-Fi Router

Logitec Japan has proudly introduced its latest Wi-Fi router in the form of the LAN-W300NDTV. This 1Seg-friendly Wi-Fi router is able to stream any Japanese TV channel to your iPad, iPod, or iPhone. The router provides a USB port, which enables you to plug a 1Seg USB TV tuner. Unfortunately, the Logitec LAN-W300NDTV only works with iOS devices. No word on pricing or availability so far. [Logitec Japan]

Linksys Firmware Upgrade causes Anger

users of new Wi-Fi routers from Cisco's Linksys division complained this week that the company automatically updated the routers' firmware and pushed them toward a cloud-based administration service they didn't want. Users posting on the Cisco Home Community forum and the U.K.-based site PC Gamer said they had turned on their Linksys EA3500 and EA4500 routers earlier this week and found they were running a new firmware version.

The new firmware presented a login screen for the Cisco Connect Cloud instead of the LAN-based router management interface that had come up previously, they said. Some voiced concerns about the security of cloud-based LAN administration and didn't want to set up accounts on Cisco Connect Cloud. They were able to bring up a local, non-cloud management interface after disconnecting the router from the Internet, but that interface lacked most of the features they had been used to with the previous firmware, the posts said. On Friday, an administrator in the Cisco forum posted a link to official instructions for downgrading the routers' firmware to the previous, non-cloud version. Some commenters had said earlier that Cisco had sent them the old firmware when they complained. But some people on the forum had already said they were fed up and would return their routers.

Super WiFi Antenna

Need a little more WIFI range ? The Super WiFi Antenna allows you to connect to any publicly available WiFi network up to a mile away.

It is easy to use. You just need to plug the antenna into the USB port on your computer for powerful WiFi reception. This weather- and UV-resistant antenna comes equipped with a special 15 ft. USB cable with two plugs to increase power, suction cups, a lanyard and a cable tie. The Super WiFi Antenna retails for $119.95. [Product Page].

Transfer Data Through Your Bones

Learn about bio-acoustic data transfer technology created at AT&T Labs. With this innovative technology, sensors detect vibration patterns that are used to identify specific users. Watch this demonstration of the technology as it is used to unlock a door for a homeowner.

TP-Link N750 dual-band router

TP-Link releases the new TL-WDR4300 N750 router dual-band router. The TL-WDR4300 we're is a router capable of delivering up to 450Mbps in the 5GHz band and 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz band and unlike TP-Link's older TL-WR2543ND, the TL-WDR4300 is a simultaneous dual-band router.

There are also four Gigabit Ethernet port for the LAN side and one for the WAN side and TP-Link claims NAT throughput speeds of 800Mbps or more. The router also sports a pair of USB 2.0 ports to which printers and storage devices can be connected and in the latter case there's support for FTP and media streaming over UPnP. The TL-WDR4300 is expected to rail for only US$90.

Akitio Cloud Hybrid NAS/DAS

In as much as NAS devices are handy when it comes to backing up data, streaming audio and video over a home network and many other things, one of the downsides is that the performance when it comes to actually putting the data on them isn't always there. Akitio has come up with a home storage solution that attempts to solve this issue by being a combination NAS/DAS with USB 3.0 connectivity.

Admittedly we're growing somewhat tired of the whole "cloud" hype and the Cloud Hybrid as Akitio calls its latest device is clearly trying to build in the cloud storage hype. The base specifications consist of an unspecified 300MHz processor, 32MB of DDR memory and 2MB of flash memory, i.e. not the most impressive specifications out there, but with only room for a single hard drive, the Cloud Hybrid isn't intended to be a high-end storage device, but rather something you'd use for streaming media around your home.

Interestingly, Akitio is using Microsoft's exFAT file system which so far isn't widely used on anything outside of high-capacity flash memory cards. Connectivity consists of a single Gigabit Ethernet port as well as the aforementioned USB 3.0 port. The idea, even judging by Akitio's ideas behind the product is that you load data onto the Cloud Hybrid via USB 3.0 and then connect it up to your home network to access the data.

The good news is that Akitio has added support for a wide range of standard technologies such as UPnP-AV, DLNA, iTunes music server, FTP, Samba and much more. The device is configured via a standard web GUI and it's compatible with UPnP clients like the Xbox 360, PS3, iTunes and Windows 7 MCE, but Akitio also offers a mobile app so you can access the data via iOS or Android devices and it can even be used to record directly to from some Toshiba Regza TV's. There's also support for remote access over the internet via a web portal.

As far as performance is concerned, Akitio claims 60MB/s sustained transfer rates using Samba which isn't exceptional, but pretty decent for an entry level device such as this. Keep in mind that you'd get better performance over USB 3.0, but the enclosure is limited to SATA 3Gbps drives, although this shouldn't be an issue for your average hard drive. At US$99 (S$125) the Akitio Cloud Hybrid isn't terribly expensive for what you get, but keep in mind that this isn't the type of device you want if data security matters to you - thanks vrzone.

Amped Wireless R20000G Wireless-N Gigabit Router

The Amped Wireless R20000G is not an ordinary wireless-N Gigabit dual band router. The device is equipped with advanced dual band 600mW wireless amplifiers and 5dBi detachable high gain antennas to provide up to 10,000 sq ft of high performance Wi-Fi coverage.

The wireless router features a 620MHz internal processor, five gigabit networking ports and the simultaneous dual band Wi-Fi technology for an interference free Wi-Fi experience. The Amped Wireless R20000G wireless-N Gigabit dual band router is priced at $179.99. [Amped Wireless]

Killer preps Wireless-N 1202 and E2200 Ethernet controller

Killer Technology (formerly known as Bigfoot Networks) is preparing to deliver the Wireless-N 1202 WiFi module with Bluetooth in May, while the Killer E2200 gigabit Ethernet controller is already shipping.

Qualcomm Atheros is actually doing the honors, as it formally reveals the Killer Wireless-N 1202 WiFi module with Bluetooth as well as the Killer E2200 gigabit Ethernet controller. Each one is aimed at DIYers and OEMs, enabling machines based on them to automatically classify and prioritizing gaming, video and audio network data -- a bit of behind-the-scenes black magic that's said to "provide a superior, uninterrupted online entertainment experience." As you'd expect, both will include the Killer Network Manager software on associated rigs, giving end users a borderline ridiculous amount of control over how bandwidth is used.

Cisco Smart Wi-Fi Routers

Cisco has introduced a new line of Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers with app-enabled capabilities. The EA Series consists of the EA4500, EA3500 and EA2700. Priced at $199, the Cisco Linksys EA4500 provides dual-band Wireless N connectivity up to 900 Mbps.

It has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one USB port, a DNLA media server, basic parental controls, guest access and support for IPv6. The Linksys EA3500 retails for $139. And finally, the Cisco Linkysys EA2700 features dual-band Wireless N connectivity up to 600 Mbps. This model retails for just $99

LaCie 5big Network 2

LaCie announced its professional 5-bay RAID server is now available in a diskless model. Now, users can get all the benefits of the 5big Network 2, designed by Neil Poulton, but with the flexibility to scale their storage and security as they desire - making it an efficient investment for resourceful professionals and small businesses alike.

With the 5big Network 2 diskless model, users can migrate from zero to five disks without data loss - reducing initial investment while ensuring a long-term solution. The 5big Network 2 diskless model provides users with flexibility. They can leverage unused drives or purchase new drives based on availability and demand. It will automatically build the RAID mode accordingly. The 5big Network 2 also offers RAID modes 5 and 6, which provide automatic, hardware-level data protection. If a single disk fails, simply replace it without turning off the appliance or losing a single byte of data.

Business owners, administrators and managers will appreciate the 5big Network 2's easy integration and user interface. They can organize a backup regimen for multiple Linux, PC and Mac workstations, and ensure all data is safe and in one place. The 5big Network 2 is compatible with Time Machine and Windows 7 Backup. Additionally, with its dual LAN ports, the 5big Network 2 supports speeds up to 70 MB/s. This ensures quick information sharing and backup speeds throughout the company.

For travel-bound employees, the 5big Network 2 features remote access. This allows them to share files anywhere with an Internet connection

Operating at 2.4 GHz allows users to download files and browse the web, while the faster and less crowded 5 GHz band handles more demanding tasks such as HD content streaming. The two selectable frequencies therefore optimize performance for the best internet experience. With standard Ethernet cables, users can easily link Ethernet-supporting devices such as desktops, notebooks, multimedia players, or smart TVs via the EA-N66 to start browsing the internet, stream content, or game online without delay.

The EA-N66 works in Ethernet adapter, repeater, and access point modes. As an Ethernet adapter, it can quickly connect to a variety of Ethernet-capable devices with wireless support, operating at up to 450 Mbps per band. In repeater mode, the high-powered EA-N66 can rebroadcast signals to extend wireless range if a direct connection cannot be established, offering better coverage for larger residences with special utility in multi-level locations. Users simply need to scan for the strongest Wi-Fi signal and link it to their SSID of choice. As an access point, the EA-N66 works with wired modems and routers, instantly adding wireless support to an existing network. All of these can be activated easily with the ASUS intuitive user interface in a few steps and with no install disc required.